Blackburn Whiffs Ten Sand Gnats in 3-2 Win
Published on May 17, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Savannah, GA - In a game that saw both teams combine to strike out 29 hitters, it was only fitting that a strikeout ended the contest. Cody Hall's strikeout of Charley Thurber left the tying run at second base for the Savannah Sand Gnats as the Augusta GreenJackets held on for a 3-2 win in a series opener with Savannah on Thursday night.
Ironically enough, given the outcome, hitters dominated the early innings. The GreenJackets got on the board in the first inning with a Ben Thomas RBI single and Elliott Blair's two-out, RBI double to give Augusta a 2-0 edge. Savannah got a run back in the third on Travis Taijeron's run-scoring single to pull the Sand Gnats to within a run and push the tying run to second base. Augusta starter Clayton Blackburn struck out Aderlin Rodriguez to end the inning and hold the lead at one.
In the fourth, both teams traded runs on two-out RBI triples. Carlos Willoughby brought home a run on his third triple of the year in the top of the frame before Greg Pron answered with an RBI triple of his own to make the score 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Blackburn again picked up a big strikeout to end the inning - that time, he got Luis Nieves looking - and would roll on to retire the final seven hitters he faced, five on strikeouts.
Blackburn (1-2) earned his first win of the season after equaling a season-long with his six-inning performance. He set a new career-high with his ten strikeouts. In six innings, Blackburn allowed two runs on seven hits without walking anyone.
After Shawn Payne's leadoff single in the fifth, the GreenJackets didn't get a hit and had just one baserunner the rest of the night. Pron's triple provided the Gnats with their last baserunner until the ninth, when Rodriguez singled to end a string of 13 straight hitters retired by Augusta pitching. Hall got an infield flyout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and seal his league-leading ninth save.
Domingo Tapia (3-2) fired seven scoreless innings against the GreenJackets in his last start against Augusta, but couldn't replicate that success against Blackburn. Tapia lasted just four innings on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out five.
Seven different pitchers - three for the GreenJackets, four for Savannah - combined to strike out 29 hitters in the game. Savannah pitching struck out 15 while Augusta pitching fanned 14.
The GreenJackets will look to win their second straight on Friday as they'll send Chris Marlowe (1-1, 2.63) to the mound against fellow righty Tyler Pill (3-2, 1.89). First pitch from Savannah comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1340 AM and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
The GreenJackets return home on Thursday May 24th to open a four-game set with the Sand Gnats on another Thirsty Thursday, presented by The Library. First pitch comes at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6. Fans can enjoy dollar domestic drafts and soft drinks throughout the night. Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 17, 2012
- Drive Jolt Power, 8-3, in Series Opener - Greenville Drive
- Suns Outlast Shorebirds in Barn-Burner, 13-11 - Hagerstown Suns
- Mitchell Tosses a Gem for Charleston - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Drop Slugfest 13-11 to Suns - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Jackets Edge Gnats 3-2 Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Kannapolis Shuts out Legends on One Hit, 5-0 - Lexington Legends
- Blackburn Whiffs Ten Sand Gnats in 3-2 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Greensboro Takes Game 1, 4-0 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Walters Leads 1-Hitter of Lexington - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Hickory-Asheville Rained Out - Asheville Tourists
- 'Dads Rained out in Asheville on Thursday - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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